Holiday Giving

Are you looking for a way to give back to the community this year? Then the American Red Cross's Holiday Giving Catalog may be the right choice for you!

Our Giving Catalog allows you to purchase items for the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross so that you can do your part to help in our community and national relief efforts.  Whether it be a full day of shelter support, military support kits for our troops over seas or vaccinations for children around the world, you can feel good knowing that 91% of your donations go directly to our relief efforts.  So, when you see us at the scene of a disaster, you can know that your generosity has helped make that possible. 

Please visit our Online Giving Catalog and give the gift that saves the day.

Watch out Buffalo... here comes winter!

The fond memories I have of spending my winters here in Buffalo generally end with having a bright red nose, wind-nipped fingers, snow-filled shoes and a huge smile from an afternoon filled with sledding, ice skating and gallivanting through the park while dodging snow balls.  But in a city where temperatures drop and the wind always seems to find you through even your heaviest coat, scarf, gloves and hat, it’s important to know your limit when outdoors.  Frostbite and hypothermia are common in our climate, and we all need to be prepared when we encounter them:

FROSTBITE is the freezing of a specific body part.  It usually affects extremities like your fingers, toes, nose and earlobes.  If you or someone you know thinks they have frostbite, here are some symptoms you should check for, and what to do if you spot them:      

• Symptoms
• Lack of feeling in the affected area
• Skin that appears waxy and is cold to the touch
• Discoloration of the skin (flushed, white, gray, yellow or blue)
• What NOT to do
• Do not rub the affected area
• What to do
• Get to a warm place
• Place affected area in warm water until skin begins to redden and warm
• Seek professional care as soon as possible    

HYPOTHERMIA is the cooling of the body caused by the failure of the body's warming system.  It can be life threatening so be sure to call 9-1-1! 

• Symptoms
• Shivering
• Numbness
• A glassy stare
• Weakness
• Loss of consciousness
• What to do
• Call 9-1-1
• Get to a warm place
• Monitor breathing and circulation
• Give rescue breathing and CPR if needed
• Remove any wet clothing
• Warm the person slowly with blankets and dry clothing
• Wait for the EMT to arrive

Winter can be a harsh season in Buffalo, but if we all make sure we are Red Cross Ready we can enjoy the fun activities winter’s snow and cold weather offer! 

For more information concerning frostbite and hypothermia, click here.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

It’s that time of year again.  Family, friends and loved ones are coming together to celebrate the holidays, drink eggnog, eat pumpkin pie, tell stories and fight over the seat closest to the mashed potatoes.  But let’s not forget those service members, veterans and their families who are sacrificing their holiday traditions to ensure that we can continue to celebrate ours.  To send your appreciation and holiday cheer, you, your family and friends can join the American Red Cross’s Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. 

To get involved in this year’s campaign, create a card and mail it by December 10^th to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456

Cards will be sorted and delivered to a service member, veteran or their family so that they can see how much we appreciate their sacrifices, especially during this holiday season.